Key observers closely monitoring the Weah-led government’s fight against massive corruption and waste in public offices have expressed serious concerns that the Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Davidetta Browne-Lassanah, who has been individually indicted for theft of property, insider trading and criminal conspiracy, is treated like a “super defendant” by the prosecution department and is behaving like a “rock star”, so much so that she exercises and enjoys special privileges as if she is above the law.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), by and through the Ministry of Justice, indicted Browne-Lassanah for criminally using her office and influence to carry out insider trading, theft of property and criminal facilitation and criminal conspiracy by illegally and dubiously awarding contract to her siblings in the tone of over US$185,000.00 at the detriment to the state.
But in a fashion, quite incompatible with the criminal procedural code where every indicted person is treated as a criminal defendant and barred to be escorted by his/her bodyguards, Browne-Lassanah is behaving like a ”rock star” and comes to court in NEC vehicle, fully fueled by taxpayers’ money, heavily guarded by a posse of state security personnel (ERU Officers) assigned to her as Chairman of the NEC, as well as with a team of NEC lawyers and staff, all at the expense of the state—and not as a criminal defendant facing trial.
In court, she develops a nonchalant behavior, showing up her latest in cellphone and making calls here and there, smiling ceaselessly with unknown persons believed to be some higher-ups in the government who have apparently assured her that the trial will end.
However, observers have accused the prosecution of paying lip-service by allowing criminal defendants like Browne-Lassanah to behave like a “rock star” while other Liberian citizens, including the ANC Political Leader, Alexander B. Cummings, are made to adhere to every procedure in the court of law as a defendant.
Investigation conducted by the Hot Pepper revealed that on the first day of the trial Browne-Lassanah caused a stir at the NEC by ordering the legal department and all of the lawyers there who are on NEC payroll and, by extension, are employees of the Government of Liberia (GOL), as well as other important staff, to abandon their jobs and accompany her to the court, where NEC lawyers were seen making representation on her behalf.
A copy of the indictment seen by this paper shows that the NEC is not on trial, neither has it been indicted for any crime, instead, it is the NEC Chairman, Browne-Lassanah, who has been indicted for the crimes of theft of property, insider trading and criminal facilitation—but is using the NEC staff and the legal department as well as resources of the government to fight her personal battle.
Further, investigation conducted by this paper also shows that Browne-Lansanah is still signing vouchers, issuing internal pay slips for petty cash here and there, some of which is being spent to woo lawyers from the NEC legal department to defend her, which means she is now using government-owned resources to fight her personal battle.
Many legal experts interviewed termed actions like these as Browne-Lansanah’s abuse of public office and public resources for her own selfish interest, and noted that she is being allowed to act as a “rock star” criminal defendant because of her close contacts with higher-ups in the government.
Insiders at the NEC have confided in this paper that Browne-Lassanah was heard boasting about how those who indicted her were ordered to ensure that she did not go to jail even though at the time of her arrest she did not have a criminal appearance bond, which obviously should have formed the basis for her detention.
Information gathered, and which has been corroborated by judicial officials speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Browne-Lassanah was accompanied to Criminal Court “C” by Cllr. Michael Wilkins Wright, who is on the payroll of the NEC even though the prosecution’s indictment is against Browne-Lassanah as an individual.
Further information gathered revealed that Browne-Lassanah was heard boasting that the trial will be nothing but a complete fiasco, and for this reason she does not have the slightest thought of resigning her post because higher-ups in the government are supportive of her action and have advised her that the case will soon die a natural death.
Records gathered from the court revealed that the matter is expected to resume next Monday, and there are strong indications that she is expected to withdraw petty cash from the NEC coffers, mobilize some staff and line up NEC lawyers and personal bodyguards to accompany her to the court in a government vehicle, even though she has been accused of stealing government’s money.
Most observers interviewed accused both the Solicitor-General and the Minister of Justice of playing lenient with the matter for their alleged failure to insist that the NEC boss, now a criminal defendant standing trial for theft of property, insider trading and criminal facility, is suspended from active duty pending the final determination of the matter.
“What is the essence of this trial if the NEC boss is still in charge of every resource for which she was indicted?” asked Peter Juah of West Point.
Juah described as shameful the failure of the prosecution to object to the representation of NEC lawyers for and on behalf of criminal defendant Browne-Lassanah, and noted that such conduct reveals an awful lot about the war on corruption.
Meanwhile, this paper will formally attend the hearing of this matter, scheduled for next Monday, to see whether NEC lawyers, personal bodyguards and the vehicle assigned to the indicted NEC boss will be used for her to attend her private case.